Bringing someone to the U.S.

[crewpilot]

I have tried to search through the board for someone in a similar situation, but not have been able to find anything that helps.

Here is my situation. I am a U.S. citizen and having been living in the Czech Republic for 2 years now. I am getting ready to return home, but I have been dating someone here that I do not want to just, simply, leave behind. We have been dating for about a year and a half. We have discussed marriage, and while we both feel that we will very likely get married in the future, we feel it is important that she come live in the U.S. for a couple of years first. The reason for this is that we do not want to just get married on the assumption she will be happy living in the U.S. or that if she isn’t, I will be willing to move back and settle down here. I have been trying to find a way for her to come back to the U.S. with me, to live and work, but I have not found anything.

So, are there any options to bring her to the U.S.? The way I understand, from what I have read so far, is basically, no.

A fiance visa is only valid for 90 days, correct? Are there any exceptions?

Is it possible to have someone that is a non-family member sponsor her? For instance, me with my parents as a joint sponsor?

She doesn’t have a university degree, so would it be possible to have a employer sponsor her?

Are there any other routes to residency?

Thanks for any help you guys can give me! This is a really confusing process. I would really love to move back soon, but I am starting to feel is not going to be possible unless we are married. We just don’t want to rush into a marriage just to get a visa and we don’t want her to enter illegally either.

[kiragrup]

Why don't you want to marry her? It makes the things much more easier...

[Marco 72]

It is no longer possible to petition for a non relative to come to the US. Even in the 1930's close relatives were preferred. Once you are married, your parents will be able to co-petition for her in case you don't meet the requirements.

Realistically, the only other possibility outside marriage is for her to get a tourist visa (B2) to visit the US. That will be valid for 6 months, and may be renewed for a further 6 months while in the US. However, she will not be allowed to work. She will have to contact the local US consulate and show that she has significant ties to her home country (e.g. a job, rental agreement, etc). She should also show she can afford to come over for a short trip. If she says she's going over to visit her boyfriend and maybe stay as long as a year, the visa will most likely be denied...

[crewpilot]

Why don't you want to marry her? It makes the things much more easier...

I understand it would be far easier. But, as i said in the previous message, We do not want to jump into a marriage simply to get a visa. Not everyone dreams of moving to the U.S. This is asking alot of her and before we make that commitment, we would both like to be sure that she would be happy living there. We are not comfortable with the idea of entering a marriage, hoping that she will be happy living outside her own country, and just getting divorced if she doesn't.

[crewpilot]

Realistically, the only other possibility outside marriage is for her to get a tourist visa (B2) to visit the US. That will be valid for 6 months, and may be renewed for a further 6 months while in the US. However, she will not be allowed to work. She will have to contact the local US consulate and show that she has significant ties to her home country (e.g. a job, rental agreement, etc). She should also show she can afford to come over for a short trip. If she says she's going over to visit her boyfriend and maybe stay as long as a year, the visa will most likely be denied...

Unfourtunately, this is not really a possibility either. The amount of money one would have to show proof of for a 6 month stay is ENOURMOUS! Second, it doesn't really help in deciding whether she would like living there. 6 months is not a very long time. It would be difficult to settle in and really get an idea of what living in a place would be like if you are only there for 6 months. Also, she wouldn't be able to work. Aside from the major problem of both of us having to live off a single (modest) salary, an important part of how happy a person might be in a place is how happy they are with the jobs available to them there. Without knowing this, we would not really get any measure of happy she might be living there long term. It would really just feel like a long holiday. Not a good way to judge a place as a possible new home.

Don't mean to sound ungrateful for your help and suggestions though. I do REALLY appreciate it!

[Saykocan]

The situation sounds similar to that of my best friend's. He's American, his girlfriend (now wife) is Czech. The situation was even more complicated than yours, in that I introduced them as penfriends, and they met in person only after writing for 5 years, and the guy didn't even live in the USA since he was 9 years old (or CZ, ever). But she made it to the US, they finally got married, and now my friend has applied for Ivana's green card.

Now, the short answer behind this long intro is AU-PAIR. If your girlfriend is young (not sure about the existence of any age limits, but they'd look at a 45 year old au-pair candidate suspiciously) can speak English well enough, and doesn't dislike kids, that's a perfect way for her to enter the US and experience the American lifestyle. She won't make a fortune, but she won't starve either.

That's my 2 cents..